Chapter Two

Lisa opened the door to Jake's old truck and climbed in, slamming the door closed behind her. Nobody asked who she was riding with, allowing her to go where she felt comfortable. The late afternoon brought more clouds in, darkening the sky above them. Jake started the truck and slid the selector for heat, adjusting it to the dash.

“Thanks, it’s a little chilly outside,” said Lisa. She hugged herself, rubbing her arms.

Jake gave her a sideways grin, waiting for Sheriff John to back out ahead of them. He reached behind the seat, handing her an old faded coat. “Lay that on ya. It’ll keep you warm until the engine heats up.”

Lisa looked at him, unsure if she should do that. This was his coat, not hers. “Um, okay.”

Jake backed out and shifted, pulling away from the doctor’s office. “It’s alright, just a coat an I ain’t using it right now.”

“Okay,” she replied again, her voice small. Lisa laid it over her, putting it on backwards. She smiled. It was way too big for her, but it was warm. “Are we going to that Mexican place?”

Jake took his eyes off the road to smile at her. She liked it when he did that, when he smiled big. His eyes got all squinty, and it made her feel warm inside for some reason.

“You got into my truck without knowing where I was going?” he asked, shifting again.

“Well, yeah. I know it’s to go eat - right?” she asked, watching his face.

He laughed again, but not so big this time. “Yeah. John wants to talk and we're all hungry.”

Lisa’s stomach rumbled at the thought of food. She nodded and looked out through the windshield. “Alright. What about me?”

“Everything,” Jake said. “Where you’ll live and what your plans are for the future.”

“Oh,” she said. “Isn’t that up to the sheriff?”

“Yes, and no. How old are you, if you don’t mind my asking.”

“I don’t mind, but you have to tell me yours first,” she said. She smiled, and he saw when he looked to see if she was serious. “Besides, shouldn’t you have asked my age before now?”

“Fine, I’m 25. Turned that age four months ago.” Jake said, braking for a squirrel that darted into the road. “And probably, yeah.”

“Wait, for real?” she asked. “You’re not that much older than me!”

Jake raised his brows, giving her a quick look. “Well, go on, we had a deal.”

“Okay, I’m seventeen.” She paused, watching him from the corner of her eyes. “I’m eighteen in three days.”

Jake nodded. That was what the sheriff guessed earlier.

“Well, you’re old enough to make your own decisions in my mind. I think the sheriff has the same thoughts, bein legal and all in three days.”

Lisa watched as Jake swung in the parking lot behind Sheriff John, backing into a spot facing the restaurant. The wind outside stirred the leaves on the ground and rocked the tops of the surrounding pines. She looked at Jake and then at the coat.

“Go ahead, but you might swim in it,” he said. He opened his door, stepped out, and slammed it behind him.

Sheriff John caught his eye and jerked a thumb to the front door. Jake nodded, gesturing to Lisa in the cab. John nodded and disappeared inside, grabbing them a table. Jake walked around the truck and opened her door.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. “Why are you still buckled in?”

Lisa didn’t make eye contact, choosing to look at the floorboard instead. “I’m nervous, Jake,” she whispered.

He had to lean in to hear her. The wind was picking up. “Nervous, why?”

“I haven’t been in a place like this in a long time. What if people look at me?”

Jake nodded and looked thoughtful. He tried to understand her situation, to put himself in her shoes. “Well, people have eyes.”

Lisa gave him a sideways look, and not a friendly one.

“Okay, not funny,” he said. He got looks a lot, mostly because of his height. He wasn’t extremely tall, but taller than most at 6ft 3. “I’ll just stand next to you, so people look at me. I’m pretty ugly, so they’ll just look away.”

Lisa giggled, trying to stop herself by covering her mouth. “You’re not ugly, Jake,” she said, her cheeks turning red again.

“Well, let’s find out.” He stepped back and offered her his hand.

Lisa lifted her head, mouth opening slightly. “Oh, okay.” She placed her small hand in his and stepped out.

Jake reached over her and pushed the door closed. “Let’s go find the sheriff before he eats all the food.”

They walked together hand in hand across the parking lot. Jake held the door open for her when they reached the building, guiding her inside. The place wasn’t too busy yet, but it was filling up fast. Jake looked out over the room, spotting John at a booth in the back.

“Ah, there you guys are. I was wondering if you two got lost in the wind out there.” Sheriff John looked down at their joined hands before eyeing them both.

Jake caught the look and answered before John could ask. “Lisa is a little nervous about being in public.”

“Understandable,” he said, face lightening. “Don’t be shy. I’ll arrest anyone who says anything.”

They placed their orders and relaxed while they waited. The server brought over a basket of chips and salsa, placing their drinks in front of them. Sheriff John and Jake helped themselves to the chips, dipping them in the fiery salsa. Lisa sat huddled by the window, observing the surrounding room.

“Help yourself, Lisa. They make these chips here, nice and fresh,” said John. He crunched on one, enjoying the light crispy texture.

Lisa smiled, but shook her head. “No, thank you. I don’t want anything too spicy just yet.”

“Well then, let’s have us a talk,” he started. “You’re days away from being an adult. What do you want to do?”

This took Lisa by surprise. She fully expected the sheriff to toss her into a state home. She didn’t have any idea what she wanted to do, giving no thought to her future; never expected to have one. Jake was at her right as she looked at him.

“I - I don’t know.” She felt stressed now, like it was an emergency to have a full life plan right then and there. “Do I need to say something right now?” Tears stung her eyes. She wanted to run away and hide, but Jake was blocking her exit.

“No, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I should have been more specific,” said John. He recognized the panic in her eyes. “You have options, but I need to know how to help you.”

“Maybe you should lay those options out, sheriff,” said Jake.

“You’re right,” he said. “We can sign you up for state help, maybe find you somewhere to live until you get yourself some work.”

Lisa shook her head. ‘Work where, how?’ she thought. “I don’t know how to do that. I’ve never had a job before.” The tears fell from her eyes again. It already felt too hard being an adult.

“Option two is a state home. They can help you, guide you on the right steps to take. In time, you will make it on your own.”

Jake cringed at the thought of Lisa being tossed into that kind of system. He’d heard horror stories about those places, even knew a few people who left to live on the streets. He sat back, thinking about his own plans. His truck was still in Reno, and he needed to get it out of his old employer's yard before the lease was up.

Then there was the ranch. The place needed work, but it was the future site of his trucking company. He wanted to expand his business, maybe hire some new drivers for local work. He was just one man, though, and he couldn’t do it on his own.

“Sheriff, I - this is too much,” said Lisa. She was crying softly now into the sleeve of the coat she wore. “I don’t want to choose right now.”

Jake exhaled and placed his hands palms down on the table in front of him. “Alright,” he said. “Option three is you work for me.”

John looked at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion. “Work for you? What do you mean, Jake?”

Jake turned, peering down at the girl next to him. “I’m moving my company here to Cow Creek. Obviously, the house and shop need some work, but I still need to bring my shit over here from Nevada.”

John nodded, seeing what Jake was getting at now. “But where the hell will she live? That house ain’t in no condition to sleep in.”

Lisa was looking up at Jake now, not quite believing what she was hearing. She knew nothing about what kind of business he was talking about.

“I can get her a room at the motel I’m staying at. It ain’t much, but it’s warm and dry.”

John nodded, a faint smile playing at his lips. He looked at Lisa, gauging her reaction. The girl was looking at him in amazement, like he was some kind of angel. “Lisa, what do you say? You have three options on the table right now.”

Her mouth shook, eyes watering. She threw herself at him, wrapping herself around his arm, and cried.

Jake rubbed her back with his free hand and nodded. ‘What the hell did I just get myself into?’ he thought. ‘I don’t know anything about caring for someone in her condition!’ He looked at the sheriff, who watched Lisa.

“Option three it is, I guess,” he commented. “You are a good man for helping her, Jake. But understand, you’re responsible for her wellbeing. She’s vulnerable right now, and I’ll be checking on you two - a lot.”

Jake nodded his agreement, still trying to comfort Lisa. “I understand, sheriff. She’ll be alright, I know she’ll get the hang of everything with time.”

“And remember, she can’t leave the state until she’s 18. I won’t allow it. My reports won’t be filed for a few weeks, not until I track down her parents. They need to burn for deserting this sweet young lady.”

Jake knew what he was saying. Technically, the sheriff had to go through all kinds of hoops and paperwork when a minor was found in Lisa’s condition. Since her birthday was only days away, he found it less of a hassle by looking the other way. It’s not like anyone was abandoning her again, not even close. The sheriff and Jake had known each other for years. Hell, Sheriff John knew Jake’s old man. They used to fish together on weekends back in the day.

“Got it. We have some things to wrap up here before I fly out to Nevada, anyway. Can you help Lisa get her ID and everything in order?”

—--------------------------------

The motel sat just inside town, right alongside the main drag. It was old, but well maintained. Jake managed to get Lisa a room next to his, just in case she needed anything. He parked the pickup in front of his room and switched the headlights off.

After getting Lisa settled in and showing her how to call his room or the emergency line on the motel’s phone, he took off into town again. After the long, very odd day he just endured, he needed a few beers. Stopping by the Quik Fuel, he grabbed a 6-pack of cold ones from the cooler in the back. Deciding he would want some snacks, he bought some chips and a few bags of gummy bears.

He saw the curtains move in Lisa’s room and smiled to himself. She was a cute one, but definitely not the girl for him. The sheriff was right. Lisa was vulnerable, and going through a lot in her life right now. The best he could do for her was offer her a job and somewhere to sleep.

They set her in her room with bottled water and the snacks he bought for her at Walmart. Opening his door, he set the beers on the table and popped one open, enjoying a long swallow. He switched the TV on for some background noise and pulled his shirt off, wincing when he brushed the sore spot on his head.

“I ought to shower and clean that shit up,” he said. “Need my shower beer first.”

He grabbed his beer and went to the shower, turning it on to warm up. After stepping in the steaming water, he let the stream hit his head, biting back his urge to cuss at the burning pain the cut caused. He tried to distract himself, thinking about the calls he had to make tomorrow.

A large dumpster needed to be dropped off. Everything in the house and shop had to go. A crew had to be called to do the work, and a county inspector had to approve the permits for the remodel. “Fucking shit show,” he mumbled, soaping his hair.

He rinsed off and screamed out in pain when his hand brushed the cut. “FUCK, dammit!” He slammed his fist against the wall, eyes watering with the throbbing in his head. “This is bullshit - fucking bear!”

—-----------------------

Lisa lay on her bed, feet crossed, hands resting on her stomach. She hurt, but it was in a good way. For the first time in a very long time, she felt full. The food at dinner was delicious, even though she could not finish it. Guilt washed over her, but nobody said anything to her about it. Sheriff John just waved a server over and asked for a takeaway box. Her leftovers sat in the mini fridge under the TV set.

She was enjoying some cartoons when she heard Jake's pickup start up and leave. “Where the heck is he going?” she asked herself. Lisa knew it wasn’t any of her business, but a part of her felt like it was. She wanted to go with him, even if it was just to keep him company.

‘Is that normal?’ she thought. ‘I’m not his girlfriend. We just met today.’

She closed the curtains, going back to her cartoons. But, after 20 minutes, the pickup returned. She snuck over to the window and peaked around the curtains. Jake climbed out of the truck carrying a plastic bag and some beer. He looked tired under his wide brim hat, and she wanted to go out and talk to him.

‘No, he’s just some guy and we have nothing in common.’ she told herself. ‘Mind my business, watch TV.’

The TV came to life next door. She could hear the news guy talking on the other side of the wall. It made her relax knowing that Jake was there, even if it was in the next room. Then the sounds of water hitting the shower pan reached her ears. Her cheeks got hot, imagining him just on the other side of the wall.

She turned the TV up louder, blocking the wet shower sounds. ‘I need to mind my business!’ She changed her mind about that when Jake started yelling and banging on the wall. She jumped out of bed and walked to the back of her room, where she could hear him better.

‘Fucking bear…’ She knew what it was about now. His head hurt. She covered her mouth with her hands. She felt terrible, but it wasn’t her fault! Lisa decided to confront him, to bang on his door and demand that she be able to help him. As soon as she heard the water shut off, she slipped her shoes on and marched outside. The wind was whipping hard, rain drops pelted her face and back, soaking her shirt.

Lisa stood outside of Jake's door and pounded on it with her fist. She squinted, trying to keep the rain and her hair out of her eyes. She banged on it again, this time seeing the curtain next to the door open and close quickly. The door opened. Jake stood just inside the room with a towel around his waist.

“Lisa, are you okay?” he asked, stepping aside for her to enter.

“Uh, yeah, I’m okay,” she said, eying him carefully.

He closed the door behind her and turned, holding his towel closed. “So, what’s the visit? Do you need something?” he asked. His face showed concern. She looked upset.

Lisa opened her mouth to answer him, but no words came out. All she could do was look at him, admire him. He was fit, his body toned. His abs, lined and firm, looking like his arms and chest. “I - heard you. I mean, your banging.” She covered her face with her hands, embarrassed.

Jake wrinkled his brow, not quite understanding her. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand, Lisa.”

She exhaled, knowing what she wanted to do. “Your head, Jake,” she continued. Lisa dropped her hands to her sides and fixed her gaze on his. “You need stitches, and I know you bought the suture kit.” She fixed her face, trying to appear confident and serious.

“Oh, I didn’t know the walls were that thin here,” he said, looking at the wall as if it would apologize. “But I’m fine. I don’t need stitches,” he said with a chuckle.

Lisa looked down at the floor between them, pursing her lips, clenching her fists at her sides. “Yes, you do, Jake,” she said through her teeth. Her forearms flexed, shaking with her frustration.

“Lisa, I’m serious. I really don’t-”

Lisa snapped her head up and jabbed her index finger into his stomach, stepping forward. “Get changed, and sit in the chair!” She yelled, pointing at the table with her other hand.

Jake was taken aback, leaning away from her finger. “No, Lisa. You need to go back to your room,” he said. The once silent, shy girl was now trying to tell him what to do.

Lisa lowered her finger and leaned back with sarcastic surprise. “Oh, really? If you let me fix your head, I’ll leave.”

“Lisa! My head is fine, seriously,” he said. It wasn’t, though.

Lisa raised her eyes to his right ear. A small trickle of blood worked its way down his neck. “You’re bleeding again. Good thing it's fine, huh?” Her heart raced, adrenaline coursing through her. She was scared and excited at what she was doing, and she couldn’t believe Jake hadn’t thrown her out of the room already.

Jake walked to the bathroom mirror, still clutching the towel around his waist. Lisa watched, her breath catching in her chest at the sight before her. Watching him walk away was a treat to her eyes, especially in that semi wet towel. For the hundredth time today, she felt her cheeks burn.

“Dammit, fucking - FINE!” Jake shouted, dabbing at his head with a fresh towel. “Okay, fine. You win.” He pulled the towel tight, tucking it closed under his belly button. Still holding the other towel to his head, he dug inside a plastic bag with his other hand. “Here, all the shit is in there.” He tossed the bag on the bed, its contents spilled out after bouncing to the floor.

Her heart raced faster now, not really believing she actually won. ‘Holy shit,’ she thought, holding a hand to her chest. ‘How did I do that? I’ve never done anything like this before. He didn’t even hit me!’

Jake angrily tore through his suitcase, pulling a pair of sweatpants from the mess before slamming the bathroom door behind him. Lisa jumped, almost dropping the bag to the floor again. She smiled, but felt terrified at the same time.

‘He’s so handsome, and massive! How - why did he let me win? I mean, he obviously needs the help, but he had the chance at the doctor’s office. Why is he so stubborn? I’m so much smaller than him. How is this even possible?’

A million questions raced through her mind while she sorted out the medical supplies Jake had purchased. She found a roll of paper towels by the microwave and brought them to the table. After pouring some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel, she cleaned the surface. Then, laying out another, she opened the suture kit and prepped it.

Lisa was fairly good at sewing, but human flesh was not on her skills list. The hair would get in the way, and he might not hold still. She shrugged at her thoughts and waited for Jake to exit the bathroom. When he did, she swallowed hard. The towel was nice on him, but these gray sweatpants were something else. Jake seemed not to notice Lisa’s stare.

He saw Lisa, still in his room; and she had everything ready. Jake sighed, patting his beard dry before tossing the towel in the corner of the bathroom. “Alright, let’s get this over with,” he said.

Lisa, trying to be friendly, reached down and patted the seat in front of her. “Come on, this shouldn’t take too long.”

Jake frowned, plopping down in the chair. “Go on, stab the shit outta my head with those little torture tools,” he mumbled. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, hanging his head.

Lisa stood next to him, wide eyed, still in disbelief. Jake sat there, big and strong as a bear himself. Yet he was going to let her sew him up? She patted his shoulder, momentarily feeling the firm skin and muscle beneath her fingers. “It’s okay. Everyone needs help sometimes.” She soaked a cotton ball with the rubbing alcohol and scrubbed the scissors she found in the bag. “I need to trim your hair around the cut.”

Her words hit Jake. His anger at her persistence disappeared as quickly as it had come. Those words, her soft touch; she was right. All she wanted to do was return the favor and help him, as he had helped her. He took in a shaky breath and held it before slowly exhaling. “Alright, do what you have to do. But first, can you hand me a beer?”

She arched a brow, although Jake couldn't see her. ‘Why is he asking me?’ she thought.

“Sure,” she said, reaching across the table, pulling a bottle from the box. “Here you go. Do you need-” Jake curled his fingers under the metal cap and pulled it off before taking a big drink. “Nevermind,” Lisa finished.

She trimmed the hair around the area she needed to stitch, being careful to avoid the wound. Now that she was up close and personal, she could see just how bad it was. Just over two and a half inches long with a slight curve. She checked in the plastic bag again, finding two more suture kits.

“Finish your beer cuz this will take longer than I thought,” she said. “You might need to go to the doctor tomorrow.” Lisa cleaned the scissors and laid them on the table.

Jake sat up straight, tilting his bottle up, polishing it off. “Why?” he asked, not showing any emotion. Lisa’s comment shook him; he hated needles.

“It’s a big cut, almost 3 inches long.” She shook her head. “I’ll check it again in the morning, but I dunno,” she trailed off. “I need to go to the bathroom. This is going to take a while.” She left the room, leaving Jake with his thoughts.

He checked the clock by the bed, 7pm. “Shit, fucking stitches,” he muttered. Leaning forward and grabbing another beer, he noticed Lisa’s layout. Everything was nice and neat, laid out with detail, it seemed. Jake nodded, admiring her commitment. He felt like an ass, trying to brush off her help and arguing with her.

He didn’t know why. ‘It’s not like she’s my girlfriend or wife. She’s not even 18. So why do I feel guilty dismissing her offers to help? Probably cuz of how she’s been living, all abandoned and shit.’ he thought. He pried the bottle cap off and drained the beer in one swallow before reaching for another - and another. “Fuckin’ needles and shit,” he said.

“What?” Lisa said from behind him.

Jake turned, his head spinning from pounding the 3 beers so fast. He leaned, almost falling out of his chair. Lisa stepped forward, trying to stop him from falling.

“What happened?” she asked. Then she saw the empties lined up on the table in front of Jake. “Why did you drink those so fast?” she asked, astonished.

“Cuz of the needles, and the string,” he mumbled.

She placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning down close. “You don’t like needles?”

He shook his head, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees again.

“Is that why you didn’t want help?” she asked, still leaning down to talk to him.

Jake said nothing, so Lisa patted his shoulder and got to work. An hour later, and two bathroom breaks later for Jake, Lisa finished. She worked fast, getting the hang of it after the first two stitches. Jake growled below her, clenching his fists and cussing under his breath. It freaked her out at first, but 10 minutes in and she realized he would not act out towards her. She ignored him after that.

As soon as she tied up the last stitch and cut the line, she applied a thin layer of antibiotic gel. When that was done, Jake pounded his last two beers and grabbed a can of chew before disappearing into the bathroom.

Lisa saw this and shook her head as she cleaned up her mess, tossing the garbage into the bin by the door. She tucked the needles away to dispose of at the doctor’s office. No matter what, she was going to have Jake go there again, and that was going to be her reason.

Jake exited the door and washed up at the sink. Lisa watched him out of the corner of his eye, walking towards her. “Hey, how does your head feel?”

He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up above his head.

“Waah! Jake, put me down!” she grabbed his wrists to balance herself, but Jake had her tight. He brought her down to eye level and hugged her to him, removing a hand from her waist to wrap around her.

He then kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, breath hot on her neck. “Thank you. I’m sorry for not listening to you earlier.” Then he set her down on her feet, before laying face first on his bed.

Lisa held her hands to her chest, not really comprehending what had just happened. ‘Did he just - kiss me and apologize?’ Her heart raced again. She touched her cheek where he kissed her. ‘I got a kiss!’ She smiled, putting the rest of the medical supplies away in the bag.

“Jake?” she asked when she was done. She patted his back, trying to get his attention. “Jake, are you asleep?”

“Mm, what’s wrong?” he mumbled.

“Hey, I put everything away. I’m going back to my room now.” She looked at the door, not really wanting to leave. “She wasn’t scared, but she didn’t want to leave Jake.”

“I’ll walk you, if you wanna go,” he said into the bed beneath him.

‘If I want to? Do I have to?’ she wondered.

“Well, I don't have anywhere to sleep in here, Jake. You only have one bed.”

Jake pressed his hands into the bed, pushing himself up and rubbing his eyes. “Alright, I’ll get my boots on.”

“Okay,” Lisa whispered.

Jake slipped his boots on and walked to the door, pulling it open. He waited for Lisa to walk ahead of him, but she didn’t move. He waved out with his hand. “Come on, I’ll walk you next door.”

Lisa looked up at him, then at the open door. The rain was coming down in buckets, the wind still howling outside. “Jake I -” she said.

Jake closed the door and twisted the lock. “I’m tired, no offense,” he said, rubbing his face again. “It’s a kingsize bed, and I don’t move much. You take the side closest to the bathroom, furthest away from the front door.”

Lisa’s heart lightened as she nodded, not saying anything. In all honesty, she didn’t want to sleep alone tonight. She felt safer with Jake, and that was something she wanted to keep close after being alone and afraid for so long. Was it love? She didn’t know, not yet.

Jake just wanted to go to sleep, his beer soaked brain only worked on battery backup mode at that moment. A little warning light flashed somewhere in the back room of his mind, but he couldn’t hear the alarm. He pulled the blankets back and gestured for Lisa to make herself comfortable.

She instead visited the bathroom again, happy to sleep in a warm dry bed for the first time in a long time. Jake switched the lights off, then the TV, before climbing in. He fell asleep instantly. Lisa took a little longer than that. She slid in opposite Jake’s snoring form. The bed was soft and warm, something she missed.

So much had happened today, it almost felt like a dream. Part of her wondered if she would wake up, find herself in her old room huddled under dirty clothes and tattered blankets, trying to stay warm. Lisa wiped her eyes, tears soaked her fingers. Everything changed in one day, all because of that stupid bear. If it hadn't charged Jake, she would have waited for him to leave, and she could have run away.

The sheriff would have helped her, but she would have never met Jake. She sniffed, crying silently. If she went to sleep now, and woke up in her old room, that would be cruel. Or maybe she was dead, finally having starved herself to death.

Was this a coma dream? It all felt so real, it can’t be fake. The man next to her felt real, and the food she ate tasted excellent. Maybe this was heaven, and she didn’t know it yet. The wind and rain hammered the roof and windows, drowning her senses while she drifted off to sleep, her fingers outstretched to just touch Jake's arm.

—--------------------------------

Lisa lay on her side in the big, soft, squishy bed. Her pillow was warm but firm. Her hand was under her head, laying on - she opened her eyes. ‘Oh no..’ she thought. She was lying on his chest, his arm around her shoulders.

‘What do I do?’ she asked herself. ‘Do I move over, or do I stay? Do I want to move? Why do I have to? I’m sleeping, so I don't know what I’m doing, right?’ She closed her eyes, wiggling deeper into the bed, stretching an arm out across Jake's chest.

He pulled her closer to him in response, stroking her back with his fingers. Goosebumps covered her body. Pleasure exploded over her back, and she squeezed him. Again, tears made their appearance, but these were tears of happiness.

‘Oh, my gosh! I haven’t ever -’ She pressed her cheek harder against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. But then his hand stopped, along with his snores. “Oh, please don’t stop,” she said into his chest. Lisa felt the muscles in his chest move under her cheek, probably him laying back. The fingers on her back moved again, and soon she was drifting off to sleep once more.

This time, when she awoke, there was a light in the room. The sunlight filtered in through a small crack in the curtains, creating a vertical strip of light on the wall in front of her. She was lying on her side with her head on an actual pillow, and Jake had his arm around her, holding her stomach.

She lifted her head, turning to see the man holding her. She wanted to kiss him, but she didn’t know why. ‘Is this what Sheriff John meant by calling me vulnerable?’ Lisa reached down, grabbing Jake's hand to lift it off of her. He groaned, pulling her closer to him.

She giggled, trying to get out from under his grip. “I have to pee, Jake.” His snores stopped, and he lifted his head, opening his eyes.

“Huh? Oh, shit, sorry,” he said. He jerked his arm away and moved away from her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know I did that.”

Lisa’s heart sank, like she just lost something important. She stood out of bed and straightened her shirt. “No, it’s okay. It’s nice being held for once.” She didn’t wait for his response. She really had to pee.

When she was done, she quickly stomped across the floor by the door where she left her shoes. Tears poured from her eyes, and she fought to keep her vision. Jake sat up, seeing her upset state.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked.

Lisa sat on the ground and jammed her shoes onto her feet. She didn’t answer him, still trying to get her last shoe on.

“Lisa,” said Jake. “What’s wrong?” He sat up, throwing the blankets off of him.

Her shoe wouldn’t go on, and she threw it on the floor in front of her before standing up, unlocking the door. Jake ran over to her and grabbed her before she could run outside barefoot.

“Hey, answer me, please?” he asked, picking her up. He put an arm under her backside, and another around her back, holding her to him. Her legs straddled his torso, and she wrapped her arms over his shoulders. “Talk to me,” he said, keeping his voice low.

She sniffed, taking shaky breaths. “I - just want someone to care!” she cried out. “And I want to go to my room.”

Jake rubbed her back, just as he did when he woke the first time this morning. “Okay, and you can do that,” he said. “But please, don’t leave here angry, alright?”

Lisa cried, moaning and sniffing between sobs. ‘How long has she been holding this in?’ Jake wondered. ‘She’s in so much pain. My mother put me through something like this when she ripped dad from my life. I haven’t ever been abandoned, though.’

Jake kept quiet, holding Lisa and rubbing her back. She didn’t fight or try to leave. All she seemed to want to do was cry and be held, and that’s just what he did. He thought to himself about what he would do with her, how he would get his personal life taken care of while caring for her.

It wasn’t his responsibility. He could hand her off to the sheriff anytime he wanted. But deep down, he knew that would only hurt himself and Lisa. They came together for a reason, and he didn’t think that so much as he felt it in his chest. He was helping Lisa right now, holding her while she let her pain out; but he felt - needed. That was something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

After an hour of strolling around the room, Lisa just lay her head on his shoulder. Occasionally, she would sniff or wipe her eyes; but she never said anything. Jake's arms burned, and his back protested. He leaned his head away from Lisa’s on his shoulder and finally whispered.

“Can I let you down?”

Lisa just nodded, and Jake walked to the bed, gently laying her down in his spot. He reached down and removed her one shoe that she put on earlier. He looked into her glistening eyes, wiping the wetness away with his thumb before leaning down to her ear.

“I do care, Lisa.” He kissed her cheek and straightened. “I’m going to get dressed, then we can go find breakfast. Is that okay with you?”

Lisa focused her gaze on him and nodded, still refusing to talk.

“Alright,” he said. ‘Give her attention and don’t make her talk. Should be easy enough.’ he thought. ‘The fuck have I gotten myself into?’

—-------------------------------